Ten Myths That Damage
a Woman's Confidence

By Patricia Holt
Bethany House Publishers, $8.99

ISBN 1-55661-379-2

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Review by Julie F. Tanner

"God is worthy of trust. The better we know Him, the more we will trust Him. The more we trust Him, the more confidence we will have--a confidence founded in our unchanging, all-loving Father." These three sentences sum up the message of Pat Holt's book, Ten Myths That Damage a Woman's Confidence. Through her own experiences and those of many other Christians, Pat takes a close look at ten areas of vulnerability for women today. Although the book is especially meaningful for Christian women, its content is relevant to most American women.

Pat Holt's credits speak of self-confidence: a school administrator in a Christian academy, co-author of two books, winner of the 1983 Gold Medallion Award in Christian education. But as Ten Myths That Damage a Woman's Confidence unfolds, we can easily identify with her own struggles to become more confident. We learn how the Northridge earthquake of 1995 damaged her sense of control and self esteem as it did for many in California. We read of her struggles as a painfully shy child and teenager and of her body image problems as a woman with less than ideal appearance. Pat also shares her difficulties with time management, finances, and her feelings of incompetence. Readers will come to admire Holt, not for her brilliance in overcoming obstacles but for her courage in sharing them with others so they can benefit from her experience.

Holt has also interviewed other people with confidence-damaging experiences. These people aren't famous, but they know they have an extraordinary God and base their confidence on Him. She also recounts the struggles of well-known Christians such as Fanny Crosby, Joni Eareckson Tada, Ruth Bell Graham, and Patsy Clairmont. All the testimonies support Holt's purpose in writing: "to lead you in the journey of becoming a woman who has confidence in God."

Indeed she proposes God confidence rather than self confidence as what a woman most needs to withstand the earthquakes of life. "I have written this book to contrast the things that destroy a woman's self-esteem with the bedrock of a life that is growing in godly confidence." Several concepts are prominent in Holt's presentation: The confession of true feelings and being totally honest with God, constant prayer, and meditation and memorization of Scripture. She leads readers, as only a teacher can, by introducing new ideas, exploring each carefully, and offering illustrations. Each idea is followed with clearly defined and manageable steps toward building "God confidence."

But these steps are not just well presented. Throughout Ten Myths that Damage a Woman's Confidence, Holt continually prompts readers to take the steps because they will produce a closer walk with Jesus Christ. She encourages women to boldly ask God for what is needed whether it is courage, contentment, wisdom, or deliverance; to trust God to meet needs; to praise Him and give thanks; and to acknowledge God's sovereignty.

Although Holt does sympathize with readers, she doesn't try to pacify them. This is not the modern woman's Book of Whinings. Her words are filled with enthusiasm for leading Christian women to a closer walk with Christ. She writes the way most American women would converse with a friend, using everyday language to relate feelings and events. Questions and personal application exercises appear at the end of each chapter, making the book appropriate for small group use.

Julia Tanner is a church secretary and avid reader from Grand Rapids, MI.

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